Maynooth College and Maynooth University’s Music Department and Faculty of Arts, Celtic Studies and Philosophy, in partnership with Music Generation Kildare and Kildare County Council, have announced the appointment of mezzo soprano Sharon Carty as Maynooth Campus Associate Artist for the coming academic year, 2020 – 2021.
Commenting on the appointment, Father Michael Mullaney, President of Maynooth College said, “We are delighted to support this initiative, which places a value on the vital contribution that artists make in providing moments of inspiration and hope in our lives.”
Speaking about the development of this new role, Dr John O’Keeffe, Director of Church Music and Choral Groups at Maynooth, said, “This grew out of a lockdown reality in which people, including musicians, were confined to their local areas. I suggested to Sharon that we put on a virtual concert of Bach’s music from Maynooth College Chapel on Midsummer’s Day. The success of this led in turn led to a larger scale event for Kildare’s Culture Night, and eventually to the announcement of this exciting initiative.”
This new arts initiative also has the support of Kildare County Council and is very much line with the local authority’s shared commitment with the Arts Council to support artists.
Following her appointment, a delighted Sharon Carty said, “I am honoured and excited to take up this post as Associate Artist in Maynooth, a university campus with a rich history and international standing, and I am immensely grateful to them, as well as Music Generation Kildare, and the Kildare County Council Arts Office, for this opportunity to share my experience and love of music with the students, as well as the wider community”.
ENDS
